Apparatus and method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device for a vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device for a vehicle seat, in particular of a cabriolet, are provided. At an outside temperature which is greater than a predetermined limit temperature, the heating element of the air supply device may be deactivated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2005/012468, filed Nov. 22, 2005, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2004 057 641.6, filed Nov. 30, 2004, the entire disclosures of which are herein expressly incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device for a vehicle seat, such as a vehicle seat of a convertible.

Various air supply devices which can be integrated in a vehicle seat of a cabriolet, and with the aid of or by which a defined airflow can be provided for the vehicle occupants, are known from the prior art.

For example, German Utility Model DE 92 01 474 U1 discloses an air supply device for a vehicle, in which at least one air outflow opening is provided in the upper region of a vehicle seat, via which the head, shoulder and neck region of the seat occupant can be acted upon by a defined airflow. An airflow of this type is intended to reduce the undesirable drafts which flow at the rear into the open passenger compartment when driving with the top of the vehicle open. To this end, the air supply device is charged with air which is trapped by designated inflow cross sections during driving and is conveyed to the air outflow opening by lines and ducts by generation of a dynamic pressure or with the assistance of a fan.

Furthermore, German Laid-Open Specification DE 102 26 008 A1 discloses an air supply device for a seat of a convertible, in which improved comfort for the seat occupants during driving with the top open is provided by the airflow flowing out of an air outlet opening which is adjustable by a control device as a function of automatically or individually adjustable parameter values in such a manner that the seat occupants find the outflowing airflow to be pleasant. To this end, a heating element is provided within the air supply device and can preheat the air taken in from the surroundings to a specific temperature. Furthermore, the throughput of air flowing out (i.e., the strength of the airflow) is adjusted by means of the control device via a fan.

When there is strong insolation, strong heating of the neck and shoulder region of the seat occupant cannot be avoided. In many cases, the airflow which arises only to a small extent on account of the aerodynamically greatly improved vehicle contours and flows into the rear of the passenger compartment is no longer capable of sufficiently cooling the neck or shoulder region.

The apparatuses and methods known from the prior art serve merely to preheat the artificially produced airflow to a determined temperature.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and a method with the aid of which cooling of the neck and shoulder region of a seat occupant can be brought about in a simple manner.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an air supply device and a method according to the invention in which, at an outside temperature which is greater than a predetermined limit temperature, and/or, when there is insolation in the passenger compartment that goes beyond a certain duration or intensity, a heating element provided within an air supply device which uses the method and, in particular, is integrated in a vehicle seat of a convertible, is deactivated, and therefore the airflow can only flow out at the outside temperature prevailing in each case.

This artificially produced airflow is intended to support the backward flow of air into the passenger compartment such that the neck and shoulder region of the seat occupant can, to a certain extent, be cooled comfortably by additionally controlled blowing with air.

The heating element is controlled by a control device which is capable of detecting the outside temperature and/or insolation via sensors.

The limit temperature to be taken into consideration by the control device is determined, for example, as a function of the vehicle speed prevailing in each case and/or the intensity of the insolation.

Furthermore, it is provided that the limit temperature can be adjusted manually or individually by the seat occupant.

The limit temperature defined by the system may be around 25° C., for example.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, at an outside temperature which is greater than a predetermined limit temperature, and/or during continued insolation, the heating element is deactivated, and therefore the airflow flows out at the outside temperature prevailing in each case.

Furthermore, according to another exemplary embodiment of the method of the present invention, the strength of the airflow can be additionally adjusted, individually or automatically, as a function of the vehicle speed prevailing in each case.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective view of a vehicle seat with an air supply device according to the invention integrated therein; and

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the vehicle seat of FIG. 1 with the air supply device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, a vehicle seat, with the air supply device integrated in the vehicle seat being illustrated by dashed lines. The vehicle seat can be used in particular in an open motor vehicle; the use in a closed vehicle is likewise also conceivable.

An air outlet opening 3 of the air supply device is integrated in the region of the head restraint 1 of the vehicle seat.

This air outlet opening 3 is connected to an air duct 4 which is integrated in the backrest 2 of the vehicle seat and connects the air outlet opening 3 to a fan 5 which sucks up ambient air, as a rule in the rear region of the backrest 2.

A heating element 6 is integrated within the air duct 4 and with the aid of which the ambient air taken in by the fan 5 can be preheated to a predetermined temperature before it emerges from the air outlet opening 3 in the head restraint 1.

This vehicle seat is shown in FIG. 2 in a side view.

As can be seen, the heating element 6 is connected to a control device 7.

The control device 7 controls the activity (i.e., the process of switching the heating element 6 on and off) as a function of the outside temperature measured by a temperature sensor 8, and a predetermined limit temperature stored in a memory of the control device 7.

However, the control device 7 can also be activated onboard by the seat occupant via a switch 9, with the occupant either controlling the temperature of the airflow to be taken up via the heating element 6 or being able to switch off this heating element 6 as required.

The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

1-7. (canceled)
 8. An air supply device for a vehicle seat, comprising: at least one air outlet opening provided in an upper region of the vehicle seat and via which a head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant can be acted upon by an airflow; at least one heating element over which the airflow is conducted; and a control device that, at an outside temperature which is greater than a predetermined limit temperature, deactivates the heating element such that an airflow flows out of the air outlet opening at the outside temperature.
 9. The air supply device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control device cooperates with at least one of a sensor for determining the outside temperature and a sensor for detecting insolation.
 10. The air supply device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the limit temperature can be adjusted by the control device as a function of at least one of a vehicle speed and an intensity of insolation.
 11. The air supply device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the limit temperature is individually adjustable by the seat occupant.
 12. The air supply device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the limit temperature is 25° C.
 13. The air supply device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the limit temperature can be adjusted by the control device as a function of at least one of a vehicle speed and an intensity of insolation.
 14. The air supply device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the limit temperature is individually adjustable by the seat occupant.
 15. The air supply device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the limit temperature is 25° C.
 16. The air supply device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the limit temperature is 25° C.
 17. The air supply device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the limit temperature is 25° C.
 18. A method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device for a vehicle seat including at least one air outlet opening provided in an upper region of the vehicle seat and via which a head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant can be acted upon by an airflow, and at least one heating element over which the airflow is conducted, wherein, based on detection of at least one of an outside temperature greater than a predetermined limit temperature and insolation, the heating element is deactivated, and thereby the airflow flows out of the air outlet opening at the outside temperature.
 19. The method as claimed in claim 18, in which strength of the airflow is adjusted as a function of vehicle speed.
 20. A method for adjusting an airflow of an air supply device for a vehicle seat including at least one air outlet opening provided in an upper region of the vehicle seat and via which a head, shoulder and neck region of a seat occupant can be acted upon by an airflow, and at least one heating element over which the airflow is conducted, comprising: detecting at least one of an outside temperature at the vehicle and insolation in a passenger compartment; deactivating the at least one heating element, based on at least one of the outside temperature exceeding a predetermined limit temperature and a detected insolation; and outputting the airflow out of the air outlet opening at the outside temperature, if the at least one heating element is deactivated.
 21. The method as claimed in claim 20, in which strength of the airflow is adjusted as a function of vehicle speed. 